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Returned for another birthday getaway this past weekend. Just as last time, everything was clean and cozy. We enjoyed snow shoeing at Peninsula State Park and retiring in the evening with our books in front of the fireplace. The kitchen has all the essentials to make breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. The location is quiet and serene. I’m sure we’ll be…

Tourism

Although Door County has a year-round population of about 28,000, it experiences a tourist explosion each summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as the Lake Michigan spring gives way to a beautiful three month summer. Most businesses are specifically targeted to visitors, and close during the “off season.” Throughout the summer, the population of Door County can reach as high as 250,000. The majority of tourists and summer residents come from the metropolitan areas of Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison, and the Twin Cities. The area is known as “the Cape Cod of the Midwest”.

History

The Door County peninsula has been inhabited for about 11,000 years. Artifacts from an ancient village site at Nicolet Bay Beach have been dated to about 400 BC. This site was occupied by various cultures until about 1300 AD.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the immigration and settlement of pioneers, mariners, fishermen and farmers, with the first white settler being Increase Claflin. Economic sustenance came from lumbering and tourism.

During the 18th century, Door County was actually referred to as “Death’s Door territory” by the French, the water strait between what is now the Door Peninsula and Washington Island is very hazardous for navigating ships. This led to (and continues to cause) many vessels being damaged and shipwrecks, hence the name. continued at Wikipedia…